Nagin Endorses Jindal

Absentee Voting Under Way For Nov. 15 Runoff

As absentee voting began Monday, Democrat Mayor Ray Nagin endorsed Republican Bobby Jindal for governor in a move that could sway the outcome of the race.

Still, new numbers from pollster Verne Kennedy show both candidates at 42 percent.

Nagin made the announcement at a 10 a.m. news conference.

"This is a tough choice, but the right one," Nagin said. "First of all, I am crossing party lines. Sens. John Breaux and Mary Landrieu and the state Democratic party did their best to try to convince me to do otherwise, but I am comfortable in my decision because I truly believe it is time for Democrats and Republicans to come together for a better Louisiana and a better New Orleans."

Nagin backed former state Senate president Randy Ewing, a Democrat, in the Oct. 4 primary. Ewing placed fifth.

Since that election, Nagin had made it clear that an endorsement for fellow Democrat Kathleen Blanco would not be automatic, saying that Jindal, who has been a federal and state health official, would get full consideration.

Absentee voting runs through Saturday. The hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until noon at the office of the registrar of voters' office at City Hall.

Meanwhile, in the third of what will likely be five televised debates, the two gubernatorial candidates differed immediately Sunday on style, credentials and ethics in government.

Jindal emphasized new ideas while Blanco put weight on her experience.

Jindal dismissed a Blanco sally about his qualifications to be head of the Louisiana's universities, citing his education. Blanco deflected a Jindal query about enforcing stronger ethics in government, saying no one had ever questioned her ethics in years of public service.

At their last debate, Blanco went on the attack, directly criticizing Jindal's record. She said he wasn't qualified to run the University of Louisiana System and didn't improve health care as head of the state health department.

Jindal charged that Blanco, the state's lieutenant governor, was distorting his record and running a negative campaign.

Sunday night's debate at Centenary College was televised statewide by its sponsor, Louisiana Public Broadcasting. The debate was also sponsored by the Council for a Better Louisiana.

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